"Let me give you a refresher course on how we do not interfere in the lives of mates and see if I can make it stick this time."
He did and it was a lesson she wouldn't soon be forgetting.
Chapter Nineteen
Charles went through his mental checklist to make sure he had everything he needed for his trip. A one-way plane ticket to Knoxville was in his pocket. The confirmation paperwork for the cargo van he rented was in his briefcase. Being familiar with small towns, he knew the quickest way to be noticed would be to be seen driving around town in an unfamiliar luxury car. He didn't want to chance drawing any attention to himself while he was there.
Also in his briefcase was a bottle of quick dissolve tranquilizers, just in case his fiancé proved a bit reluctant. He'd humored her minor rebellion thus far, but his patience was coming to an end. Yes, he'd made a mistake in marrying The Whore and his true love was entitled to her pound of flesh—a woman scorned and all that bull—but enough was enough. It was time to end this foolishness and bring her home where she belonged.
Neither one of them were getting any younger. They needed to get to work producing his heirs as soon as possible. He had to have someone to leave his empire to, and it would be one of his own. He'd make sure Mary Elizabeth was properly taken care of, as well. He'd already made provisions for her future financial security in his will, as any good husband would.
She'd discover that he was an excellent provider. He'd already settled a generous monthly allowance on her that would began next month, so she could give up that ridiculous job of hers. As if he'd allow any wife of his to work, especially after what happened the last time.. No, she could spend her time taking care of him and the children. If that wasn't enough to keep her busy, there were always charitable organizations. They always needed dedicated workers. Not only would it give her a chance to use the business skills she'd acquired in college, it would make him look good as well.
He'd found a boutique with a good reputation and had them create a wardrobe just for his love. Although they'd done an excellent job in clothing The Whore, he'd chosen not to use the same retailer that The Whore used when she was alive. He didn't think his fiancé would appreciate any more comparisons being made with that of her sister. A few of the items he'd ordered had already been delivered; the rest should arrive shortly. When Mary Elizabeth came home, she'd discover a closet full of clothes waiting just for her.
They'd be leaving that clunker she called a truck behind in North Carolina. She'd have her choice of vehicles and if there was nothing she wanted to drive already parked in the six-bay garage, then he'd just take her out and buy her the vehicle of her choice. He could easily purchase it under his business name and use it as a tax write-off.
It shouldn't take more than a couple of days to retrieve his bride. He already had the minister booked and the marriage announcements ready to go. He figured something private but tasteful would be appropriate this time around since he was still a grieving widower. His business associates would understand his hasty remarriage. After all, he was marrying his wife's sister, keeping it in the family as they say. He already knew her background was impeccable and the practice was common among his set.
He informed his staff that he would be bringing his fiancé back with him and to have everything prepared. Everything that he could think of that needed doing was done. Oh yes, his insurance policy. His bride could, on occasion, be extremely stubborn. Going to the safe, he pulled out his secret weapon, something no southern gentleman worth his salt would be without. He doubted he would need it. He was sure she would see the error of her ways once they'd had a chance to talk face-to-face. If not, well there nothing like a nine millimeter to help push matters along.
Opening the safe, he pulled out the gun case and ammunition. He wasn't worried about security at the airport. His case would be checked in with his luggage and as long as he had all the appropriate documentation, there should be no problem. If not, well, that's why he had money. What good was it if it couldn't be used to occasionally pave the way?
The first day, sheer panic kept her moving. She ran from everything, but mostly she ran from herself, and from Hugh. Not, surprisingly enough, from what he was. She had no problems with his being a shifter. It was his feelings for her that scared her.
She had no experience with love. She knew how to give it, but she had no practice in receiving it. In her experience, love came with strings. It was only given when you did something to earn it. She'd done nothing to earn Hugh's love. He gave and she received. That was the basis of their relationship. The only thing she gave to him was her body, and she didn't see how that counted for anything because he always made sure she received more pleasure than she ever gave.
It puzzled her and she couldn't trust what she didn't understand. She didn't realize that love wasn't supposed to make sense, that it wasn't logical. It astounded her that Hugh could really love her. After all, no one else in her life did.
The next day, the panic receded and she could think clearly, but she wasn't ready to return home. Going home meant facing Hugh, and she wasn't quite ready. She still wasn't sure how she felt about everything. It was difficult for her to comprehend that what she thought of as an affair was something more, something permanent. Just the idea of it made her head hurt.
By day three, she acknowledged that for whatever reason, Hugh really did love her. It showed in his actions, and in every word he spoke to her. It was apparent in the way he cared for her. She'd soaked up his attention like a sponge, not being used to it. She was the caretaker in all of her relationships. No one ever took care of her. She hadn't examined his actions too closely, because if she had, her innate sense of fair play wouldn't have allowed her to enjoy his attention, knowing that he wanted more from her than she was willing to give.
But she still couldn't go home. Not until she figured out what she wanted. It wouldn't be fair to Hugh for their relationship to continue when she didn't know her own heart and mind. She wasn't a user.
On day four, loneliness kicked in. She kept wanting to share the things she'd seen with Hugh. Somewhere in the last two weeks, he'd become her best friend. She missed sharing her day with him, the amusing and sometimes troubling things that happened. She'd find herself thinking, ‘Oh, I can't wait to tell Hugh about this,’ or ‘Hugh would love that.'
The nights were the worst. She tossed and turned, seeking the heat of his body. She missed the sound of his breathing in the still of the night. She missed his scent filling her nostrils. It went far deeper than sex, though she missed that, too. She didn't just miss the sex. She missed Hugh.
While she wasn't looking, he'd imprinted himself on her soul. She felt incomplete without him. He'd subtly made himself such a large part of her life that she hadn't realized how big until he was gone, even if it was by her own doing. Did she really want to spend the rest of her life like this? No, she didn't. She wanted him in her life, totally and completely.
One thing she knew for sure, Hugh was not Charles. With him, she'd never have to worry about infidelity. Maybe she didn't know how to deal with his love and maybe she didn't completely trust it to last, but according to Kiesha and Shannon, she could trust in the mate bond. According to them, it was more permanent than marriage, and more binding in love. Yes, she could put her faith in something like that.
By day five, only sheer stubbornness was keeping her going. She was way past ready to go home. She missed her bed, her apartment, and she missed Hugh's cooking, but most of all, she missed Hugh. She had an assignment to complete and she was determined to get it done. Once she got home, she didn't plan on leaving again unless Hugh went with her, and with his schedule at the diner, she didn't see that happening any time soon.